Good Questions

Every Friday, Heather Brown takes a moment to answer some of your Good Questions that may have slipped through the cracks. This week, she’s checking the weather, getting corny, and listening to Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical.”

Wade from Brainerd is already tired of mosquitoes this summer, but he still wants to know: What do mosquitoes eat? According to the American Mosquito Control Association, only females feed on blood because they require the protein to produce eggs.

Mike from Park Rapids wants to know: Why are salad forks smaller? Though forks were around in the 15th century, they didn’t become popular or affordable until the 19th century, when silver plate technology was invented.

Gaylene from St. Paul asks: Why do we put our hands over our hearts during the national anthem? It is actually part of United States law. The U.S. Flag Code was adopted in 1923, and it says when the flag is present during the anthem, veterans and members of the Armed Forces should give the military salute.

Every Friday, Heather Brown tackles some of our viewers’ burning questions. This week, she’ll tell you how “prom” got its name, where birds go in rainstorms, and how police enforce the HOV lane on the highway.

Connie from Blaine wants to know: Why don’t we eat turkey eggs? Chickens lay eggs more often than turkeys — usually once a day versus a turkey’s every other day. Chickens also don’t incubate their eggs as long as turkeys.

Every Friday, we answer a few confounding questions submitted by our viewers. This week, Heather Brown takes a look at the Super Bowl’s viewership numbers, unused Social Security dollars, and the accuracy of gas gauges.

Dick from Stillwater asked: When was the last time the Gophers had possession of the Pig, Jug and Axe? Earlier this season, Minnesota beat Michigan to take the Little Brown Jug and Iowa for Floyd of Rosedale. If the Gophers beat the Badgers on Saturday, they will also be in possession of Paul Bunyan’s Axe. The last time that happened was 1967.

Craig from Richfield and Beverly from Prior Lake asked: Who is responsible for removing campaign yard signs after the election? State law says yard signs must be removed 10 days after the state’s general election, but doesn’t stipulate who is responsible for taking them down.

Starting tomorrow, an 88-foot white spruce from the Chippewa National Forest will make stops in 30 cities over 19 days on its way to Washington, D.C. It’s going to spend part of November and all of December as the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree.

Angela from Minneapolis asked: What is the most popular license plate for a cause in Minnesota? There are almost 4.5 million passenger license plates in Minnesota. According to the Department of Public Safety, the DNR Critical Habitat plates are the most popular at 101,412.

Ivy and Kelley in Mrs. Neppl’s class at Tremont Elementary are learning about rivers. They want to know: What is the longest river in the U.S.? The Missouri River, at 2,541 miles, beats out the mighty Mississippi at 2,230 miles. But here’s the thing: the Missouri is a tributary of the Mississippi.

Amanda from Golden Valley and her husband have a standing argument. They asked for our help in resolving this important issue: Should you rinse your dishes in warm or cold water? According to University of St. Thomas nutrition expert Jeannemarie Beiseigel, hot water (110 degrees or higher) is recommended because it helps remove dirt and debris. It also speeds the drying of dishes.

Larye from Minneapolis wants to know: Why don’t they fire the cannon off at Gopher football games anymore? This is something they did for years after every Gopher touchdown. Rod Wallace, the man who fired the cannon, retired after this past season.

James from Apple Valley asked: Why are potato chip bags so full of air? Frito-Lay, the largest of the chip makers, says the following: “Our chips are packaged by weight depending on bag size. Prior to sealing, we add air to the bags to cushion the chips and help prevent breakage.”

Toni asked: What causes hiccups? The diaphragm, the muscle just below the rib, gets irritated and starts to spasm. That causes a person to take in air quickly. When that air hits our vocal cords, out comes the hiccups. Eating and drinking too quickly, excitement, swallowing too much or smoking can be common causes of hiccups.